Springfield Falcons face more tests this weekend

SPRINGFIELD - After watching his Springfield Falcons play come-from-behind hockey on their first weekend of the American Hockey League season, coach Jeff Truitt summed up their performance in one word.

"Character," he said.

The Falcons won their season opener Saturday night at Hartford, rallying from 3-0 down to defeat the Wolf Pack 4-3.

They lost a 4-3 game Sunday at Providence, but again showed true grit when they came from 3-1 behind in the third period to force overtime.

For their efforts, the Falcons came away from the road weekend with three points.

"Those games showed the kind of stick-to-itiveness our players have. We're never out of a game, and I'm real proud of the way they buckled down. Now it would be nice if we could start playing with a lead, instead of playing from behind," Truitt said.

The Falcons took a break from hockey Monday, with the coaching staff and many of the players taking part in a charity golf tournament at Crestview Country Club in Agawam.

It will be back to work Tuesday morning as the Falcons gear up for another testing weekend - a Friday game at Providence, their home opener Saturday against Portland at the MassMutual Center, and a Sunday game at Manchester.

Forward Rob Schremp and defenseman Mathieu Roy will be added to the mix when the team hits the ice Tuesday. Both were sent to Springfield on Saturday as the parent Edmonton Oilers set their roster for the opening of the National Hockey League season.

Schremp, Edmonton's No. 1 draft pick in 2004, led the Falcons in scoring last season with 23 goals and 76 points in 78 games. He made a strong showing in training camp, but lost out in the roster numbers game. So he's back, wearing No. 44 again.

With Schremp and Roy added, the Falcons have 29 players. While there is no limit on the number of players an AHL team can carry, it's likely that some will be sent to Stockton of the ECHL, either Tuesday or Wednesday.

"We'll make some decisions to thin things out," Truitt said. "We can't have people sitting around. It's not fair to them, and it doesn't serve the player development process."

AHL teams are allowed to dress 18 skaters and two goaltenders for each game. That's one skater up from last season.

ICE CHIPS: Portland, Springfield's first home foe, won its opener 6-3 over Manchester. The Pirates have Nathan Gerbe, a center who scored eight points for national champion Boston College in its two NCAA Frozen Four games last March. Falcons defenseman Taylor Chorney played for North Dakota in that tournament ... Gilbert Brule, a creative forward in his first season with the Falcons, played 146 games in the NHL when he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization. Edmonton acquired him last July in a trade ... Brule is one of four Falcons players who grew up in Edmonton. The others are defenseman Mike Gabinet, center Tyler Spurgeon and goaltender Glenn Fisher.